Combination Therapy With Bortezomib in Renal Medullary Carcinoma: A Case Series Article

Full Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.clgc.2021.08.004 Web of Science: 000731363100008

Cited authors

  • Ryan A, Tawagi K, VanderVeen N, Matrana M, Vasquez R

Abstract

  • Renal medullary carcinoma is a rare, aggressive neoplasm, and most patients succumb to their disease within months. Three patients were treated with a perioperative regimen consisting of platinum-based therapy, doxorubicin, and bortezomib. All achieved complete responses, 2 of which lasted for 12 months and the other in remission for 7 years. A multi-institution clinical trial of this regiment may be warranted. Background: Renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) is a very rare, aggressive neoplasm occurring almost exclusively in adolescents and young adults with sickle cell trait. Given the rare nature of this tumor, accounting for less than 0.5% of all renal carcinomas, most of the published data on therapies is from case reports and small case series, and current treatments are insufficient, with most patients succumbing to their disease in months. We report our experience with a cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen consisting of platinum-based therapy, doxorubicin, and bortezomib. Methods: Three patients with metastatic RMC at a single institution were treated off-label with a perioperative chemotherapy regimen for 4 cycles of 2 alternating regimens: regimen A consisting of cisplatin, doxorubicin, and bortezomib; regimen B consisting of carboplatin, paclitaxel, and gemcitabine. A radical nephrectomy was performed on all patients. Surveillance imaging was performed on all patients to assess response and disease burden. Patients received up to 12 months of maintenance therapy with everolimus. Results: Three Afr ican Amer ican patients - 2 males and 1 female aged 14, 28, and 31 - with sickle cell trait and metastatic disease were treated with this regimen. The median follow-up was 18 months. All had resection of the primary tumor - 2 patients after receiving neoadjuvant therapy, and one patient underwent resection prior to referral. All 3 patients achieved complete responses based on imaging, 2 of which lasted for 12 months, and another is still in remission over 7 years after diagnosis. Conclusions: This regimen of alternating cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy with bortezomib appeared to be active against RMC and was generally welltolerated. Given the extremely rare nature of this disease and dismal prognosis, new treatment modalities should be pursued, and whenever possible, patients should be enrolled in a clinical trial. We propose that a multiinstitution clinical trial of this regiment may be warranted.

Authors

Publication date

  • 2021

Published in

Category

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1558-7673

Number of pages

  • 6

Start page

  • E395

End page

  • E400

Volume

  • 19

Issue

  • 6